Retina implant assembly and methods for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A retina implant including a chip adapted to be implanted into the interior of eye in subretinal contact with the retina. The chip has a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing the lens for receiving an image projected into the retina and a plurality of electrodes for stimulating retina cells. The implants further includes a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy. The receiver coil coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into the receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying the chip. The receiver coil is configured as a component separate from the chip, and for being positioned on the eye ball outside the sclera. The chip is connected to the receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in the implanted condition interconnects the interior and the exterior of the eye ball.

1. A retina implant to be implanted into an eye having an eyeball with an exterior and an interior, a sclera, a lens, and a retina, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into said interior of said eye being in contact with said retina, said chip, when in an implanted condition, having a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing said lens for receiving an image projected onto said retina, as well as a plurality of electrodes for stimulating cells of said retina, said electrodes being located on said side of said chip having said pixel elements thereon, such that said chip is adapted to be implanted into a subretinal space of said eye;  
 a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy, said receiver coil being coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into said receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying said chip, said receiver coil being configured as a component separate from said chip, and configured for being positioned on said eyeball outside said sclera, said chip being connected to said receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in said implanted condition, interconnects said interior and said exterior of said eye ball.  
 
   
   
     2. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver coil, said chip as well as connecting leads leading to said chip are housed within a flat plastic material body. 
   
   
     3. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein said converting means is configurated as a unit separate from said chip. 
   
   
     4. The retina implant of  claim 2 , wherein said plastic material body comprises an annular portion having a central opening, said annular portion being adjoined by a flat extension. 
   
   
     5. The retina implant of  claim 4 , wherein said annular portion is dimensioned as to enclose a lateral straight eye muscle rudiment. 
   
   
     6. The retina implant of  claim 5 , wherein said converting means is comprised within said plastic material body in a position adjacent said receiver coil. 
   
   
     7. The retina implant of  claim 3 , wherein said receiver coil comprises windings integrated into said annular portion. 
   
   
     8. The retina implant of  claim 7 , wherein said windings are configured in a spiralled pattern. 
   
   
     9. The retina implant of  claim 4 , wherein said annular portion is subdivided into a plurality of sections in a circumferential direction, said sections being separated from each other by gaps and being electrically and mechanically interconnected. 
   
   
     10. The retina implant of  claim 8 , wherein said sections are interconnected with each other by a fin in a radial direction. 
   
   
     11. The retina implant of  claim 8 , wherein said sections adhere each other in a spiralled configuration. 
   
   
     12. The retina implant of  claim 8 , wherein said sections are molded together in a spheric body having a curvature being adapted to a surface of said eyeball. 
   
   
     13. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein strain relief means are provided at least between said converter means and a connection lead leading to said chip or to said receiver coil. 
   
   
     14. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver coil has a number of windings of between 50 and 200. 
   
   
     15. The retina implant of  claim 14 , wherein said receiver coil has between 90 and 110 windings. 
   
   
     16. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein said receiver coil has an outer diameter of between 12 and 20 mm and an inner diameter at a central opening thereof of between 8 and 16 mm. 
   
   
     17. The retina implant of  claim 4 , wherein said flat extension is provided with a plurality of perforations. 
   
   
     18. The retina implant of  claim 4 , wherein said chip is imbedded in said flat extension. 
   
   
     19. The retina implant of  claim 2 , wherein said flat plastic material body is provided with lugs for affixing said plastic material body to said eyeball. 
   
   
     20. The retina implant of  claim 1 , wherein said converter means comprises means for processing an information signal transmitted together with said electromagnetic energy. 
   
   
     21. The retina implant of  claim 20 , wherein said information signal is a reference signal indicative for ambient brightness. 
   
   
     22. A method for manufacturing a retina implant having a chip for subretinal implantation, and comprising a receiver coil inductively coupling electromagnetic energy for thereinto, means for converting an alternating voltage induced into said receiver coil into a direct voltage suited for supplying said chip, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) manufacturing a flat plastic material body having an annular portion with a central opening, said annular portion being adjoined by a flat extension;  
 b) depositing metallic strip conductors on a surface of said annular portion in a spiralled configuration for making windings of said receiver coil and for creating connecting leads between said receiver coil, said converter means, and said chip;  
 c) affixing said chip and said converter means to said plastic material body; and  
 d) depositing an isolation layer over said metallic strip conductors.  
 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said flat plastic material body is generated on an auxiliary substrate and is then separated therefrom. 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said strip conductors are generated on said surface by means of a thin film process and are then micro structured photolithographically. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said converter means is affixed to said plastic material body by gluing. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said converter means is affixed to said plastic material body by bonding with said metallic strip conductors. 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said converter means is affixed to said plastic material body by injection-molding in a plastic material mass. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said annular portion is subdivided into a plurality of sections in a circumferential direction, said sections being separated from each other by gaps and being electrically and mechanically interconnected. 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein said sections are molded together in a spherical calotte body having a curvature being adapted to a surface of said eyeball. 
   
   
     30. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said plastic material body is manufactured from polyimide, polymethacrylate (PMMA) or epoxy resin. 
   
   
     31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein said plastic material body together with said isolation layer is manufactured with a thickness of between 5 and 15 micrometers. 
   
   
     32. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said plastic material body together with said isolation layer is manufactured with a thickness of between 5 and 15 micrometers. 
   
   
     33. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said metallic strip conductors are generated with a thickness (X) of between 0.5 to 2 micrometers. 
   
   
     34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein said metallic strip conductors are generated with a thickness (X) of between 0.8 to 1.2 micrometers. 
   
   
     35. The method of  claim 22 , wherein said flat plastic material body is provided with perforations in an area of said flat extension. 
   
   
     36. A method of stimulating a retina of an eye comprising
 positioning a light sensitive chip having pixel elements and electrodes for stimulating cells on the same side of the chip into a subretinal space so as to face the lens of the eye;  
 connecting the chip to receiver coils positioned on the outer surface of the eyeball;  
 transmitting electromagnetic energy to the receiver coils; and  
 rectifying the received electromagnetic energy so as to power the chip such that the chip provides amplified stimulus signals corresponding to the incident light energy to the retina.  
 
   
   
     37. The method of  claim 36 , further comprising further comprising processing of reference signals transmitted together with said electromagnetic energy, said reference signals indicative of ambient brightness, for adapting an output signal amplitude of the chip under varying ambient light intensity or brightness conditions. 
   
   
     38. The method of  claim 36 , further comprising forming the receiver coils as part of an annular member and at least partially affixing the receiver coils to the outer surface of the eyeball by passing eye muscle through an opening in the annular member. 
   
   
     39. The method of  claim 38 , comprising forming the annular member from a plurality of flexibly attached sections. 
   
   
     40. The method of  claim 36 , comprising forming the receiver coils so as to conform to the contour of the outer surface of the eyeball. 
   
   
     41. The method of  claim 36 , comprising forming the chip and receiver coils as a one-piece retina implant assembly adapted to be positioned partially inside and partially on the outer surface of the eye. 
   
   
     42. The method of  claim 41 , comprising joining the chip and the receiver coils with a strain relief. 
   
   
     43. A retina implant assembly adapted for implantation into an eye, the eye comprising a retina with a subretinal region, a lens, and an outer surface, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into the subretinal region wherein the chip comprises a plurality of pixel elements arranged so as to face the lens when the chip is in an implanted condition and a plurality of electrodes arranged on the same side of the chip as the pixel elements so as to stimulate the retina;  
 a receiver coil adapted to inductively couple incident electromagnetic radiation thereinto wherein the receiver coil is configured as a separate component from the chip and is positioned on the outer surface of the eye;  
 a converter in communication with the receiver coil so as to convert alternating current induced in the receiver coil into a direct current and providing the direct current to the chip; and  
 a connecting lead interconnecting the chip and the receiver coil.  
 
   
   
     44. The assembly of  claim 43 , wherein the interconnecting lead comprises a strain relief. 
   
   
     45. A retina implant to be implanted into an eye having an eyeball with an exterior and an interior, a sclera, a lens, and a retina, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into said interior of said eye being in contact with said retina, said chip, when in an implanted condition, having a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing said lens for receiving an image projected onto said retina, as well as a plurality of electrodes for stimulating cells of said retina, said electrodes being located on said side of said chip having said pixel elements thereon, such that said chip is adapted to be implanted into a subretinal space of said eye;  
 a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy, said receiver coil being coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into said receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying said chip, said receiver coil being configured as a component separate from said chip, and configured for being positioned on said eyeball outside said sclera, said chip being connected to said receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in said implanted condition, interconnects said interior and said exterior of said eye ball; and  
 a generally flat, plastic material body housing the receiver coil, the chip, and the connecting leads.  
 
   
   
     46. A retina implant to be implanted into an eye having an eyeball with an exterior and an interior, a sclera, a lens, and a retina, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into said interior of said eye being in contact with said retina, said chip, when in an implanted condition, having a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing said lens for receiving an image projected onto said retina, as well as a plurality of electrodes for stimulating cells of said retina, said electrodes being located on said side of said chip having said pixel elements thereon, such that said chip is adapted to be implanted into a subretinal space of said eye;  
 a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy, said receiver coil being coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into said receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying said chip, said receiver coil being configured as a component separate from said chip, and configured for being positioned on said eyeball outside said sclera, said chip being connected to said receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in said implanted condition, interconnects said interior and said exterior of said eye ball; and  
 strain relief means provided between said means for converting and at least one of the chip and the receiver coil.  
 
   
   
     47. A retina implant to be implanted into an eye having an eyeball with an exterior and an interior, a sclera, a lens, and a retina, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into said interior of said eye being in contact with said retina, said chip, when in an implanted condition, having a plurality of pixel elements on a side thereof facing said lens for receiving an image projected onto said retina, as well as a plurality of electrodes for stimulating cells of said retina, said electrodes being located on said side of said chip having said pixel elements thereon, such that said chip is adapted to be implanted into a subretinal space of said eye; and  
 a receiver coil for inductively coupling thereinto electromagnetic energy and having an outer diameter of between 12 and 20 mm and an inner diameter at a central opening of the receiver coil of between 8 and 16 mm, said receiver coil being coupled to a means for converting an alternating voltage induced into said receiver coil in a direct voltage suited for supplying said chip, said receiver coil being configured as a component separate from said chip, and configured for being positioned on said eyeball outside said sclera, said chip being connected to said receiver coil via a connecting lead which, in said implanted condition, interconnects said interior and said exterior of said eye ball.  
 
   
   
     48. A retina implant assembly adapted for implantation into an eye, the eye comprising a retina with a subretinal region, a lens, and an outer surface, the implant comprising:
 a chip adapted to be implanted into the subretinal region wherein the chip comprises a plurality of pixel elements arranged so as to face the lens when the chip is in an implanted condition and a plurality of electrodes arranged on the same side of the chip as the pixel elements so as to stimulate the retina;  
 a receiver coil adapted to inductively couple incident electromagnetic radiation thereinto wherein the receiver coil is configured as a separate component from the chip and is positioned on the outer surface of the eye;  
 a converter in communication with the receiver coil so as to convert alternating current induced in the receiver coil into a direct current and providing the direct current to the chip; and  
 a connecting lead comprising a strain relief and interconnecting the chip and the receiver coil.  
 
   
   
     49. A method of stimulating a retina of an eye comprising
 positioning a light sensitive chip into a subretinal space so as to face the lens of the eye;  
 forming receiver coils as part of an annular member;  
 at least partially affixing the receiver coils to the outer surface of the eye by passing eye muscle through an opening in the annular member;  
 connecting the chip to the receiver coils;  
 transmitting electromagnetic energy to the receiver coils; and  
 rectifying the received electromagnetic energy so as to power the chip such that the chip provides amplified stimulus signals corresponding to the incident light energy to the retina.